Sorry but a bloody silly decision. This is not TMP and the Modern board isn't and never has been the sounding board for right wing crackpots like its counterpart on TMP. For starters, LAF is actually moderated and my observation is that is well moderated, impartially, fairly and with rigour when required. That is especially true of the Post War/Modern board. I can't say I've ever seen much in the way of distasteful or even much of anything political/controversial on this forum.
I think the biggest impact will be on manufacturers of modern kit, who have a pretty niche market to start with. So they can still post stuff about new minis, well that's something but let's face it the thing about LAF is that it's focus is on nicely painted minis and after action reports. The sought of eye candy and useful information that I'm sure drives a lot of their sales. I know it has driven them for me and I doubt I'm alone.
As it happens, my principal interests fall before 1989 so this doesn't impact especially heavily on me. That said, I do own some post 1989 armies and I enjoy seeing threads on painted armies AARs etc and I enjoy chipping in on where/ how to and who makes threads.
I noted with concern two recent threads, one on happenings in the Ukraine and one on happenings in the Middle East. I can't say either is my cup of tea but they are still there are still active and from what I can tell have confined themselves to discussion of the bits n bobs. Things don't have to end badly. It comes down to good moderation, common sense and good will, none of which are in short supply on this forum. Remember there is an existing 'no politics' rule if things get sticky.
As for the legality of discussion about modern conflicts, sorry but that's patently absurd. If on the off chance someone has sought a legal opinion on that, then I respectfully suggest you find someone with a practising certificate they didn't find on the back of a cereal packet. You'll need to nuke the relevant thread if you want to maintain consistency on the topic.
Worth noting that the latest imbroglio on TMP relates to events seventy odd years ago, the attempts of some to recast those events to a modern agenda and the failure of the site owner to act. Shall we move the WW2 forum on LAF for good measure? Whilst we are at it let's can anything about colonial struggles and post colonial struggles cos they might cause eyebrows to be raised.
Here's an alternate suggestion. If folk are still bleeding in a given conflict, ie it's an ongoing affair the draw the line there. Not some arbitrary point in the past.
14 September 2009, 02:00:17 PM
